Tuesday, November 15, 2016

From a trustworthy source was learned one of the reasons why Organized Baseball is trying to form a third major league comprising Buffalo, Newark, Toronto, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Louisville, Milwaukee, and Toledo.

It appears that several backers of the defunct Federal league who have not yet received a dollar from Organized Baseball as part of the peace settlement arranged last winter, are threatening to make more trouble.

“We’re going to require a strategy to allow (Diaz) to improve,” Mozeliak told reporters, including Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch. “If he does that, he could be average, to maybe a plus-defender at short who has an impact bat. We definitely would like to see that happen.”

That doesn’t sound like a general manager who is in the market for a starting shortstop. Why would he be?

They have the pieces. Will they want to pull the trigger to get it done?

he Braves’ top young player is shortstop Dansby Swanson, but the White Sox have a very good young shortstop in Tim Anderson, and the Braves have many more good young players, so perhaps they could do it without Swanson. The Braves have other fine infield prospects (Ozzie Albies, Rio Ruiz, Austin Riley, Kevin Maitan and Travis Demeritte) plus a stash of young pitchers (Sean Newcomb, Mike Soroka, Ian Anderson, Touki ...

I didn’t realize the players’ share of revenue has dropped that low. According to the article, MLBAM is a big reason. Anyway, read the whole thing.

In 2016, Major League Baseball’s gross revenues nearly reached the $10 billion dollar mark, and according to Kevin Hisey of Field of Greens, Nathaniel Grow of Fangraphs reported that in 2014 the MLBPA received just 38 percent of the league’s gross revenues, the lowest share it has ever received. By comparison, in the early 2000s the MLBPA was ...

As Tim also noted in that exploration of Abreu’s unique contract situation, though, Abreu also can’t be given a standard raise on top of that base. Abreu’s numbers to date compare favorably to Giancarlo Stanton’s first three years, but Stanton earned $6.5MM in his first trip through arbitration. Abreu is already north of that and wouldn’t be boosted an additional $6.5MM on top of his current salary, but he also isn’t in line for a cut to that mark either. More realistically, he’ll ...

The reports I’ve gotten from international scouts regarding Gurriel are solid, if unspectacular. Scouts see the physical talent to play at second, third, or the corner outfield and one source with whom I spoke thought he’d have a chance of playing center field with reps. His arm is plus and he’s an average runner (above-average underway) with passable defensive actions on the infield.

Offensively, it’s been a while since scouts have seen Gurriel in an in-game setting and his timing ...

Gary Sanchez didn’t win the American League Rookie of the Year award, but he already took home a far more prestigious honor due to his amazing debut in 2016: He is undoubtedly the new face of the New York Yankees.

Just 55 games into his major league career, Sanchez is the supermoon in the Yankees’ universe.

Monday, November 14, 2016

The free-agent market became a bit clearer today, as Phillies righty Jeremy Hellickson accepted a qualifying offer and Mets second baseman Neil Walker followed suit on Monday. The other eight eligible players declined, keeping them as free agents.

Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager was unanimously named the Jackie Robinson National League Rookie of the Year Award winner in the National League, while Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer earned the top honor in the American League.

With the Twins’ new regime in place, pitch framing should play a larger role than ever in the club’s evaluation of catchers. Here, again, Garver believes he’s making progress.

“I have a heat chart of pitches I missed or pitches I caught well and I stole,” he said. “That’s getting bigger and bigger. I like the heat maps more than percentages. I think those help me out a lot. It’s been a process because the strike zone’s changing.”

“One of the 20-25 greatest hitters to ever step in the box. When he played the outfield, he looked like a man trying to remember where he left his keys.”

“The HOF is populated by cheaters, gamblers, racists, drunks, and abusers of women. It’s also filled with kind, decent, generous men. One’s view on where Schilling lands on this character spectrum is irrelevant when assessing his qualifications as a player.”

The Plate Coverage take on some of the names we’ll see on the 2017 ballot. ...Read More...

Curt Schilling was giddy following the news of Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 presidential election.

The former Red Sox pitcher and possible future Senate candidate chatted with TMZ Sports on Wednesday to express his joy over the results and to mock Hollywood stars who supported Hillary Clinton. In particular, Schilling singled out Matt Damon, saying that he and other celebrity supporters should “go away” now that America has decided it’s next president.

Anthony Rizzo did lead all MLB first basemen in defensive runs saved (11) and was third in UZR, but obviously doesn’t come close to any of the leaders in overall defensive runs saved or other metrics … after all, that’s why he’s playing first base. To be certain, each of his teammates Addison Russell, Jason Heyward, Dexter Fowler and Ben Zobrist were higher rated overall defensive players in 2016.

He’s one of the most interesting free agents out there. Is anyone really going to pay him full value on his 2016 season? I doubt it but sometimes teams surprise.

It would be absolutely, positively shocking if he accepted the one-year, $17.2 million deal from the Orioles. It just doesn’t make sense for him. And though I’ve heard from some optimistic fans who aren’t giving up hope until they hear official word, Trumbo’s not going to settle for a one-year pact. That’s the obvious reality. ...Read More...

Staumont can maintain a mid-90s fastball into the late innings as starter, work in the upper 90s as a reliever and hit 102 mph with riding life. He also can run a two-seamer into the high 90s with heavy sink. He has ace-caliber stuff when he can ...

“Germany” Schaeffer [sic], the village cutup who has kept fans in the American and Federal leagues in chuckles of mirth during more than one contest on the diamond, has decided to leave the diamond forever.
...
Bill Donovan gave him a chance with the Yanks, but playing was needed, and not comedy, and “Germany” failed to deliver.

In fairness to Schaefer, the “chance” that he got with the 1916 Yankees consisted of ...

1941 Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox LF: 11.0 WAR; 143 G; 135 R; 37 HR; 2 SB; .406 AVG; .553 OBP; .735 SLG; .568 wOBA; 221 wRC+; -8.8 DEF
Williams’ 1941 campaign was one of the greatest in baseball history. Seventy-five years later, Williams is still the last player ever to hit .400 in a full season. He cemented the feat by going 6-for-8 in a doubleheader on the last day of the season. Aside from batting average, he also led the majors in WAR, runs, home runs, walks, on-base ...

So, let me get this straight, 10 players received qualifying offers this year. 10. So Kenny thinks it’s much better to screw over all international free agents in order to help 10 players? That doesn’t seem like a nice big-picture solution. Wouldn’t it be better for the players to concede on another issue to get this changed?

The owners will want significant concessions from the players to effectively grant them unrestricted free agency, something that never has existed in baseball. Well, the ...

The Baseball Writers Association of America’s “Awards Week” kicks off with the announcement of the Rookies of the Year. Whereas the National League honor figures to go unanimously to Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, the American League trophy is up for grabs between Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez and Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer, whom the Mets traded to Detroit for Yoenis Cespedes on July 31, 2015.

Beltrán’s strong hitting in 2016 was key for the veteran as achieving 400 home runs, 2,500 hits, 1,500 RBI, and 1,500 runs will help him garner votes with the more traditional/old school Hall of Fame electorate who favor round milestones over analytical value. Moreover, at season’s end, Beltrán sat at an impressive 70.4 Wins Above Replacement and 36.4 Wins Above Average for his career, so he will undoubtedly draw strong support from younger, more sabermetrically-inclined voters as well. ...

Given that history, I pulled Black aside after his introductory news conference. I asked: “The last two managers left with hard feelings between them and the front office. I assume you would not have taken this job if you were not in concert with Jeff Bridich, correct?”

Black answered: “I had not met Jeff before. I hadn’t met with (assistant GM of player personnel) Jon Weil, (owner) Dick Monfort or (assistant GM of baseball operations) Zack Rosenthal. But it was a great dialogue, it ...